Winners in the Maine’s Sweethearts pageant that raised funds for the American Heart Association recently are (from left) Tara Bradstreet of Vassalboro, Kaitlyn Hall of Saco, Drew Graves of Newport, Christen Morrissey of Scarborough, Kiera Knuckles of Saco and Ella Radley of Scarborough. With them (right) is pageant director Jessica Radley of Scarborough.

Posted March 27, 2012, at 4:26 p.m.

SACO, Maine — Maine’s Sweetheart Pageant was held March 5 at Thornton Academy with 31 contestants competing in interview, fitness wear and formal wear for six different titles to benefit the American Heart Association of Maine. Organizers said the afternoon was a fun way for contestants to get dressed up, to share their passions and goals, and to educate the community about heart disease, the No. one killer of women. The pageant was open to girls and women age 2 and up.

Pageant winners were:

• Tiny Miss: Ella Radley, Scarborough

• Little Miss and talent winner: Kiera Knuckles, Saco

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• Preteen: Christen Morrissey, Scarborough

• Teen: Drew Graves, Newport

• Miss: Kaitlyn Hall, Saco

• Mrs.: Tara Bradstreet, Vassalboro

• Photogenic winner: Reighley Adams, Gorham

• Essay winner: Emily Baker, Topsham

Teen category winner Drew Graves, 16, daughter of Carol Crockett and Andrew Graves, both of Newport, is a sophomore at Nokomis Regional High School.

“I was very excited to win the pageant, and happy that I can help raise awareness for the American Heart Association. I want to raise money for the heart association and get my friends involved to help spread the word,” Drew Graves wrote in an email. She said her future plans include studying to be a pharmacist.

The event raised $1,500 to benefit the association. Pageant winners will use their year as Maine’s Sweethearts to encourage the community to be aware of the risk of heart disease and to advocate healthy lifestyles.